CC March 1999

March 1999
Observatory

Pro–abortionists score a point
In a landmark judgement in the USA in late February, a federal jury ordered militant anti–abortion activists to pay $107 million to Planned Parenthood, a group of doctors. The doctors had moved court contending that the material the anti–abortion lobby had put out — including old West–style, ‘wanted’ posters and an anti–abortion website called the ‘Nuremberg Files’ listing the names of doctors willing to handle abortion cases — amounted to death threats. Three doctors, whose names had been listed on the website and in whose names such posters had appeared, had been murdered. Subsequent to the killings of the doctors, the website showed a line drawn through the name.

The judgement was a major victory in the fight to stop the "domestic terrorism" of some anti–abortion lobbies. The ‘Nuremberg Files’ includes not only names but also home addresses and car license–plate numbers of many abortion doctors and the names of their spouses and children. At least seven people working at abortion clinics around the US have been killed in recent years, and more than 250 clinics providing abortion facilities have been sites of bombing and arson.

The anti–abortion lobby however, intends to appeal against the decision claiming that nothing in their material advocated violence and therefore a case of unlawful intimidation was not justified and the ruling was an encroachment on the right to freedom of speech. Several of the defendants have simply refused to pay. "I could not in good conscience give money to an industry that thrives on killing children," one defendant, Catherine Ramey, said and likened her lobby to fighters for racial justice.

Planned Parenthood and the other plaintiffs, urging prosecutors around the country to consider bringing criminal charges against the organisations, said the material served "to threaten the lives of doctors who courageously serve women seeking to exercise their right to choose abortion."

‘Christian Taleban’ in Pakistan
Developments in Pakistan are a good indicator of what could happen lest the spate of attacks against Christians and minorities in India are not stopped. Though the Christian community in India has acted commendably, with almost no reports of any counter violence, the situation could well change if the persecution continues, as is the case now in Pakistan.

Infuriated with years of persecution and discrimination in the country, Christians in Pakistan have taken up arms in "self–defence". Reportedly, several Christians infiltrated hard–line Islamic organisations, spent months training in camps in Afghanistan and Pakistan and have now equipped themselves with the enemy’s own guerrilla tactics. Armed defence organisations, modelled along the extremist Islamic groups, such as the Sipah–e–Masiha group set up by the Bishop of Lahore, are springing up in various places in Pakistan.

Christian leaders opposed to violent means, fear the eruption of a civil war in Pakistan. Father Bonnie Mendes, while saying that the ways of peace, must be stressed to these youths, added that the government "must face up to realities and make changes, as we are heading for a very dangerous situation". Increased attacks against Christians in Pakistan and the Nawaz Sharif government’s bid to impose Islamic law, have reportedly provoked the move towards violence. One such militant, calling himself Simon Mujahid, said he had taken up arms because the Christians in Pakistan needed protection. He said he had "spent several months training in the camp. Since coming back we have bought weapons and are ready for attack". In Peshawar, taking after their teachers, the Taleban, the Christian militants have even enforced a strict moral code on members of the community.

‘Rape–resistant’ Jeans?
In February 11, a huge ‘skirt strike’ was called by protesting women MPs of Italy. Women all over Italy were called upon to wear jeans in protest against a ruling by Italy’s highest appeals court, which held on February 10, that it was impossible to rape a woman wearing jeans as it was impossible to remove such tight apparel without the woman’s co–operation. The ruling came in the case of a 1998 conviction of a 45–year–old driving instructor, Carmine Cristiano, for raping an 18–year–old student. A lower court had sentenced him to two years and eight months in prison, but the case will now be re–tried.

Women MPs (in jeans) held aloft banners against the decision in Parliament while also making strong charges of sexism. "If we go on like this, every woman that doesn’t wear a chastity belt will have the right to be raped", said Sonia Viale of Parliament’s equal opportunities commission.

The ruling has brought to attention a larger problem that plagues the appeals court and makes such a ruling possible. The appeals court has only 10 female justices and 410 male justices. The male bias has been obvious in previous rulings as well. In 1997, the court had ruled in a case of sexual harassment filed by a secretary against her boss, that the boss was in love and was simply being gallant when he had kissed her. The woman had been fired after she spurned his advances.

The ruling in the rape case, however, sets a dangerous precedent. As pointed out by veteran female justice, Simonetta Sotgiu, "It paves the way for the rape of women in jeans". The outrage has been strong and immediate, and the ruling has lent itself to much ridicule. One union official said sarcastically, "We thank the court for having enriched women’s wardrobes with a new garment. To the business suit and the little black dress, we can now add the anti–rape outfit, a comfortable and resistant pair of jeans". A housewives’ federation, planning a march to the justice ministry in jeans, also offered a prize to any designer who comes up with "easy–off jeans"!

Medieval laws for Bangla Hindus
Personal religious laws have been a major source of persecution for women in the entire Indian sub–continent. Just as Muslim personal law in India is a pretext for enforcement of male chauvinistic practice with the government or judiciary unwilling to ‘interfere’ in personal law matters of the minority, Hindu women in Bangladesh continue to suffer laws that date back to medieval times. Many have been left destitute after being abandoned by their husbands. Marriage could often mean becoming a prisoner to the wishes of husband and in–laws, as she has no recourse to divorce or any independent means of sustenance in the absence of the right for women to inherit or pass on property. No formal registration of marriage is needed; some religious rites are enough to establish an indissoluble bond of marriage. There is nothing to stop abandonment though. Social leaders and women’s rights activists insist that divorce in case of irreparable souring of a marriage is the fundamental right of every human being, irrespective of gender and religion. Though women activists have recognised the need for reform, they would prefer the first step to come from the Hindu community. Considering, however, that women are heavily conditioned into submission, the call for change from within is not easily forthcoming.

Valentine’s Day ‘un–Islamic’
February 14, Valentine’s Day, may have grossed a little less revenue this year in Singapore, the shopping capital of the world, as a result of a boycott called on the festivities by the Muslim clergy. The objection was that the festival had ‘non–Islamic’ origins and Muslims should not ‘imitate’ other religions. Valentine’s Day is supposed to have originated as a Roman festival (not a Christian one!), but has come to be celebrated as a day for lovers, more for commercial than for any sort of religious reasons. More objections followed. Murat Mohammed Aris, manager of the office of Singapore’s Mufti, warned in an interview that young Muslim couples who went out for Valentine’s Day may get ‘caught up in the romantic mood’ and ‘overstep’ the bounds of ‘Islamic morality’. That was a grave danger especially for unmarried couples, who, under Islam are required to have a third party present with them, he said. Although the festival’s slant has become more commercial than religious, it is still an event which has non–Muslim roots and it is not permissible for Muslims to participate in it, he asserted. A letter from the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore advising against participation was published in the Malay language newspaper Berita Herian. Malays, who are mostly Muslim, comprise 14 per cent of the population of Singapore.